Back gauge for punches



May 29, 1951 s. SEGAL BACK GAUGE FOR PUNCHES Filed Nov. 5, 1947 IN V EN TOR. ,flqq

Patented May 29, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BACK GAUGE FOR PUNCHES Samuel Sega], New York, N. Y., assignor to Wilson-Jones Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Massachusetts Application November 5, 1947', Serial'No. 784,115

This invention relates to a back gauge for maybe easily and accurately adjusted, without the use of any tools, to regulate the distance a sheet may be inserted into the mouth of the punch and will stay in any position to maintain indefinitely the exact adjustment desired. Other objects of the'invention will become apparent upon reading the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a punch, with *20 parts broken away, illustrating the relationship between the back gauge embodying my invention and the punch assembly;

Figure 2 is an enlarged detail perspective view showing the back gauge and the rod on which it is mounted; and

Figure 3 is a fragmentar cross sectional view through the punch showing the relationship between the punch heads and the back gauge.

In the drawing, the reference numeral 2 indicates a base member provided with a removable chip pan 3. An ear 4, integral with the base member, projects upwardly at each end-f the base member, A rod 5, supported in apertures adjacent the rear of each ear 4, helps to support a plurality of punch heads 6, each of which is provided with a transversely extending aperture to make the rod 5 of square cross section, butit may be of any suitable configuration. One surface of the rod should be flat to provide the most efiicient cooperation with the meanszfor holding the back gauge in the desired position.

The base member 2 is provided with a ledge l to support the front end B of each punch head. The top surface of the base projects beyond the forward edge of the ledge], as indicated at 9, to overlie the front end 8 of each punch head positioned on the ledge. Another ledge 10, positioned at the rear of the base member 2 in substantially the same horizontal plane as the ledge 1, has its forward edge terminating adjacent the rear of the punch heads 6 to provide an open space through which the punchings are dropped into the chip pan. v The portion 9 of the top surface of the base 4 Claims. (01. 164 91') through which the rod extends. It is preferred.

may be of any desired shape. pin is positioned in' a recess l8 extending entirely through the punch head 6 in a vertical direction. The lower portion ii) of therecess I8 is of less cross sectional area than the upper portion and is shaped to conform to the shape of the lower portion; of the punching pin. A shoulder 20 is 7 member 2 is provided with a graduated scale II.

The punch heads 6 are provided with a center line marking I2 and are slidable on the rod 5 so that each punch head may be accurately positioned laterally relative to the base member. A thumb screw I3 is provided on the rear of each punch head and is tightened against the rod 5 .to securelyihold each punch head in its lateral position. An adjustable side gauge l4 regulates the lateral positioningof sheets inserted into the punch to insure uniformity in thelateral positioning of the perforations in each sheet.

.Each punch head 6 is provided with a punching pin l5 having its lower portion N5 of reduced cross sectional area to provide a shoulder l1 extending circumferentially around the punching pin.' The cutting edge of the punching pin 15 Each punching provided inthe recess, I 8 at the upper edge 0 the lower portion I9.

low the normal position of the shoulder I! and a coiled springZl encircling. the lower portion l6 of the punching pinis positioned with one end bearing against the shoulder l1 and its other end bearing against the shoulder 20 to exert a constant'force tending to raise the punching pin l5. Thepunching pins l5 are operated simultaneously by pressure on a lever 22 secured to one end of an operating shaft 23 which passes through a transverse aperture in each punch head and is supported in transverse apertures in the ears 4. Lateral movement of the shaft 23 in one direction is prevented by the lever. 22. The opposite end of the shaft 23 is anchored in any suitable manner to prevent lateralmovement of the shaft in the other direction, I

The shaft 23 is provided with a longitudinally extending notch 24 adapted to engage a projection 25 on each punching pin l5 to forcethe punching pins downwardly against the action of the springs 2|. When the lever 22 is released, the springs 2lforce the punching pins I5 and the lever 22 back to their initial position.

Each punch head 6 is provided with a horizontal slot 26 passing through the restricted passage H of the punch head to form a mouth into which the sheets to be punched are inserted. The

distance the sheets are moved into the mouth' determines the spacing between the rear edge of the perforations and the adjacent edge of the sheet. A pair of back gauges 21, spaced a suitable distance apart, regulates the distance the sheets to be punched may be inserted into the mouths of the punch heads.

Each back gauge includesa ll-shaped three sided member comprising a top wall 28 and a pair of downturned side walls 29 and 30. The side walls are apertured, as indicated at 3|, to

conform to the cross sectional area of the rod 5. 4

The rod 5 passes through both apertures 31 and the fit is close enough to permit sliding movement of the back gauge on the rod without any play so that any other movement of the U-frame relative to the rod is prevented. The top wall 28 is provided with an aperture 32. A thumb screw 33,

passing through the aperture 32, is threaded angles to form a stop member 3.! which normally is positioned forwardly of the rear end of the mouth 26.. When sheets to be punched are inserted into the mouths 26 they abut stop member 31. A series of transversely extending lines 38 is provided on the top surface of gauge bar 26 to facilitate uniform and accurate positioning of each stop member 31. When the stop member .31 is properly positioned a quick turn on the screw 33 tightens it against the upper surface of the gauge bar to hold the gauge bar against ac- I cidental displacement. Tightening the screw 33 also holds the back gauge against lateral movement on the rod 5. The nut 34, by its engagement with the underside of top wall 28, prevents upward movement of the screw through the aperture 32 unless the screw is rotated to release it from engagement with the gauge bar. The screw may be easily released to permit a change in the positioning of either the gauge bar or of the entire auge. It will be understood that the transverse lines 38 may be positioned on either or on both sides of the nut 34. If the back gauge has to be moved from the punch, it is necessary only to release the thumb screws 13 and 33. Release of the thumb screws l3 permits sliding movement of the rod 5 through the transverse apertures in the ears 4 and punch heads 6. Re-

lease of the thumb screw 33 permits sliding movement of the rod 5 through apertures 3| of the back gauge.

Although I have described a preferred embodiment of my invention in considerable detail, it

will be understood that the description thereof is illustrative, rather than restrictive, as many details may be modified or changed without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. 5

Accordingly, I do not desire to be limited to the 4 exact structure described, except as limited by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a punch, a rod, a punch head slidably mounted on said rod, and a back gauge slidable laterally on said rod, said back gauge including a U-frame having apertured side walls mounted on said rod, a gauge bar slidable transversely of said rod to regulate the depth of insertion of sheets into said punch head and a screw projecting through one wall of said U-frame and engaging said gauge bar, said screw being operable to hold said gauge bar against transverse movement and said back gauge against lateral movement relative to said rod.

2. In a punch, a rod, a punch head slidable on said rod, said punch head having a mouth to receive sheets to be punched, and a back gauge slidable on said rod, said back gauge having a ,top wall and depending apertured side walls, said gauge and said gauge bar against sliding movement in any adjusted position.

3. In a punch, a rod non-circular in cross section, a back gauge having a top wall and depending side walls apertured to conform substantially with the cross section of said rod, said back gauge being slidably mounted on said rod with said rod passing through said apertures, a gauge bar slidably adjustable in a direction transverse to the movement of said gauge, and a single screw operable through said top wall to hold said gauge and said gauge bar against sliding movement.

4. In a punch, a rod having a fiat surface, a U -shaped member having its side walls apertured to conform to the cross sectional configuration of said rod and slidably mounted thereon, a gauge bar comprising a flat strip having one end turned downwardly to form a stop member, said flat strip being positioned on the fiat surface of said "rod, said gauge bar being slidable transversely of said rod to regulate the depth of insertion of sheets into said punch, and a screw adapted to "hold said fiat strip against said fiat surface to prevent relative movement between said gauge bar and said rod and between said U-shaped member and said 'rod.

SAMUEL SEGAL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 548,536 Grannis Oct. 22, 1895 713,832 Bailey Nov. 18, 1902 1,092,381 Neely Apr. '7, 1914 2,102,292 St. Louis Dec. 14, 1937 2,123,170 Dawson July 12, 1938 

